Process of and machinery for softening hides and skins



(No Model.)

2Sheets-Sheet 1. W. COUPE. Process of and Machinery for Softening Hides and Skins. No. 234,248. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

WITNESSES mums:

' ATTORNEYS.

MFEIERS, FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. COUPE. Process of: and Machinery for Softening Hides and Skins No. 234,248. Patente d Nov. 9,1880.

I INVENTOR: W BY Min/1M1 w ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

NJETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED ;'STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

WILLIAM COUPE, OF SOUTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS OF AND MACHINERY FOR SOFTENING HIDES AND SKINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,248, dated November 9, 1880. Application filed August 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM COUPE, of South Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Process of and Machinery for Softening Hides and Leather, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a more labor-saving and effective process and apparatus for simultaneously softening and stretching hides and leather.

The invention consists in the application of revolving pin-blocks to the surfaces of hides and leather in such a manner that the whole surface of the hide or leather is pressed or acted upon by the pins, and thereby stretched and softened; and it consists, further, in the peculiar construction and arrangement of said pin-blocks and auxiliary machinery, all of which is hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of revolving pin-blocks arranged in combination with socket-blocks and a revolving slicker. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation,'showing another arrangement ofthe revolving pin-blocks. Fig. 4 is a plan view, showing a third method of arranging and operating the revolving pin-blocks. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal side elevation of the same on line 1 3 Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A A represent the revolving pin-blocks, consisting of cylinders a a, horizontally mounted or journaled in suitable bearings and provided with radial tapering round-pointed pins 1) b, which are designed to be about an inch and a half in diameter at their bases and about two inches long. B B represent corresponding revolving socketblocks, consisting of cylinders c e, mounted or journaled .in suitable bearings and provided with radial sockets d, corresponding with the pins 12 b of the blocks A A.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the pin-blocks A and socketblocks B are mounted in vertical pairs in suitable housings, (l, and the several pairs are connected in a horizontal line by a bed-plate, 0.

Suitable cog-wheels, D, of unlike diameters, are keyed on the ends of the journals AB of the lower row of pin-blocks and socket-blocks, as the case may be, and suitable pinions, O, are geared into said cog-wheels D, whereby a comparatively slow rotary motion is given to the first pair and increasing motion to each succeeding pair of the said pin and socket blocks A B, and on the opposite ends of each pair of pin and socket blocks A B are keyed like cog-wheels, E, each pair of which gear into each other, so that equal motion shall be given to each block in a pair.

Springs F and bolts F, set in the top of eachlhousing-standard O, bear upon the tops of the journal-boxes of the upper blocks A B, and permit said blocks A B to yield and adjust themselves and to be adjusted to the ir regularities and to the different thicknesses of the hides or leather operated upon.

In Fig. 1 the first pair of blocks consist of an upper pin-block, A, having six longitudinal rows of pins, I), that enter, respectively, the six longitudinal rows of sockets d in the lower socket blocks B. These pins 1) and sockets d, respectively, are comparatively wide apart, so that the pressure of the pins b 1) upon the hide or leather entered between this first pair of blocks shall be only upon comparatively few points at the beginning of the softening and stretching operation. The hide or leather passes through this first pair of revolving blocks A B, and then between the second pair of blocks A B, in which the pin-block A is the lower block and the socket-block B the upper one, so that the hide or leather shall receive the pressure of the pins 1) b on its under surface. In this second pair of blocks there are shown eight rows of corresponding pins and sockets, b d, and the blocks of this pair are revolved faster than are those of the first pair, whereby the leather or hide is pressed upon different and more points of its surface from those attacked by the pins and sockets in the first pair of blocks.

Passing from between the second pair of blocks A B to the third pair, in which the pin-block A is above the socket-block B, the hide or leather is operated upon on its upper surface by twelve rows of pins, 1), and corresponding sockets (1, whereby fresh points are attacked on the surfaces of the hide or leather, and in this manner the hide or leather may be passed between as many pairs of blocks as may be required to sufficiently stretch and soften said hide or leather.

In each succeeding pair of blocks the relative positions of the pin-blocks A and socketblocks B are changed,so that in theoperation of softening and stretching both sides or faces of the hide or leather are equally acted upon by the pins b b, and as many pins b I) or rows of them as may be desirable may be iixed in the blocks A A. Immediately beyond the last of the series of these revolving blocks A B is fixed a table, G, having a concave surface, y, above which a revolving horizontal cylinder, H, is journaled in suitable bearings, ll. Said cylinder H is provided with several pairs of radial lugs, It, extending its whole length,and between each pair of lugs h is held-by pins h passing through its slots i-a slicker, l, consisting ofa straight narrow plate of steel or other suitable material, with an edgeproiecting beyond said lugs b, and in rear of each slicker I are adjusting-springs i and screws i, to permit said slickers I to accommodate themselves to the irregularities in the hides or leather and to be adjusted for exerting suitable pressure thereon.

To complete the operation of softening and stretching, the hide or leather is passed from between the pin and socket blocks A B upon the table G, where it is subjected to the pressure of the revolving slickers I l, whereby said hide or leather is thoroughly and evenly smoothed, and the operation thereby completed.

If the hide or leather be very thick and stilt, it may be passed more than once between the revolving pin and socket blocks A 13, to be properly softened and stretched, the softening and stretching being eti'ected by the pins 0 b pressing the hide or leather into the sockets d d at many points, whereby the fiber of the said hide or leather is stretched.

In Fig. 3 is shown a train of five revolving blocks, the pin-blocks A and socket-blocks I) being alternately set one above the other and journaled in suitable housings, U. A hide or side of leather to be operated upon is passed over the table K. between the two lower blocks, A B, then reversed and passed between the second and third of the series, then reversed and passed between the third and fourth blocks of the series, and finally again reversed and passed between the fourth and fifth blocks and drawn out on the table L, as indicated by the arrows. It can then be returned through the train of blocks in the reverse direction, or passed through again as before.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown another arrangement of the revolving pin-blocks as set over a perforated or socketed horizontally-moving block or table. In these Figs. 4 and 5, M represents a moving socket block or table resembling that of an ordinary metal-planing machine, excepting that it is provided on its upper surface with numerous sockets, d d, cor responding in size and location with the pins 1) b of the pin-blocks A, that revolve above it. Said block or table M is supported by rollers n n on the slides o o of the blockframe N, and said block or table M is reciprocated back and forth by well-known mechanism, (not shown,) that is connected with the shaft 0, whose front end is supported in a standard, I, and has upon it preferably the two clutch-pulleys Q Q and double clutch R, which latter is operated by the shifter R. S S represent bolts by which power is transmitted from any suitable source to the said pulleys Q Q, for moving the said block or table M. ()n the. edges of said block or table M are fixed the longitudinal racks IT, into which the cog-wheels U U on either end of the revolving pin-blocks A A gear, so that the said pin-blocks A A are revolved by the move ment of the said block M. These pin-blocks A A are journaled in suitable hearings, V V, and are provided with pins b b, arranged like these hereinbefore described, the pins in each succeeding block being more in number, and arranged to cover different points, than those of the preceding ones, and the sockets d in the block or table M are correspondingly arranged opposite the said pins b b, that the hide or leather represented at W shall be pressed therein by said pins b b, and thereby suitably softened and stretched.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the hide or side of leather W has been placed on the block M and said block M has been moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and tension-cords W W are shown attached to the outer end of the said hide or leather W, to keep it at proper tension while it is being operated upon. In this instance the said hide or leather W may be moved back and forth beneath the blocks A A as frequently as may be desired, and then maybe reversed and passed beneath the blocks A A, that its other surface may be directly acted upon by the pins b b.

After the hide or leather has been subjected to the action of the revolving blocks A in any of the devices herein shown and described, it is designed to be operated upon by revolving slickers I, placed in some suitable position.

I do not confine myself to the arrangements of the revolving pin-blocks A A herein shown, it being evident that they may be applied in other ways or by means of other mechanisms. The softening and slicking devices have a necessary connection, because the hide leaves the pin and socket in a soft ened state and full of indentations, which the slicker removes. Nor do I broadly claim pinblocks for softening leather, as I am aware that verticaltvreciprocating pin-blocks have been used for this purpose; but,

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a device for softening and stretching hides and leather, the combination, with a series of revolving pin-blocks, A, provided with pins b b, of the corresponding socket-blocks B, provided with sockets d d, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. As a means for softening and stretching hides and leather, the combination. with the revolving pin-blocks A and socket-blocks B, of the revolving cylinder H, provided with slickersII, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. An improvement in the art of softening and stretching hides and leather, which consists in passing them between successive pin and socket blocks or rollers, whereby a different portion of the hide or leather is acted upon by each change of rolls, as set forth.

4. An improvement in the art of softening hides and leather, consisting in first passing the stock between a succession of pin and 20 socket blocks or rollers and then subjecting the surface or surfaces to a smoothing operation, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. As a means for softening and stretching hides and leather, a series of revolving pinblocks, A, provided with pins b b, the pins of each succeeding block being more in number and occupying relatively-difierent portions than those in the preceding blocks, in combination with socket-blocks B, provided with sockets d d, corresponding in position with the pins b b, substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM COUPE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. SHAW, STEPHEN W. PHILLIPS. 

